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Benu
Asian Restaurant and New American Restaurant$$$$
SoMa, San Francisco
The experts at Bon Appetit Magazine and SFGate recommend this place
"The tasting menu with the wine pairing was amazing!"(24 Tips)
"The lobster soup dumplings were my favorite!!"(8 Tips)
"Execution is perfect, service friendly, wine pairings perfect."(9 Tips)
"Corey Lee’s unique, eloquent, and lavish bridging of..."(5 Tips)
92 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- tasting menu
- good for dates
- corey lee
- truffle custard
- pork belly
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JKAugust 6, 2021Try Lobster xiao long bao with black Vinegar and house-made soy sauce, Barbecued Wolfe Ranch quail with XO sauce and steamed bao black truffle cream & Sonoma Creamery milk pudding with salted caramel
Daniel BouludJuly 30, 2014The ultimate tasting menu experience. The food here is beautiful. Highlights for me were the thousand year old egg, oyster with pork belly and kimchi, xo sausage and “shark fin soup”.
Travel + LeisureNovember 30, 2012French Laundry alum Corey Lee creates dishes reflecting both his Asian heritage and personal obsessions. A bowl of wild-salmon roe with puffed buckwheat is one of 18 courses on the $180 tasting menu.
Arthur LiaoJanuary 30, 2016Flavors are nuanced and may be confusing if you are not familiar with Chinese and Korean cuisine. Execution is perfect, service friendly, wine pairings perfect. Truly brilliant and one of a kind.- Travel + LeisureSeptember 27, 2013At the clean-lined Benu, in SoMa, every detail is carefully considered, from the porcelain tableware to the Eastern-inspired chef’s tasting menu (a 1,000-year-old quail egg; salt-and-pepper squid).
EpicuriousAugust 3, 2014Lee's exquisitely designed Asian-inflected tableware frames each dish: his famous lobster xiao long bao; a faux-shark-fin soup poured over black truffle custard; his spin on Peking duck. Read more
_October 18, 2014Great service, great food, great wine pairing! Also found out Benu tracks which dishes you have tried so they create something new for you to experience every time!
Brian StraussMarch 27Elegance personified. This is not "punch you in the face" overly stuffed experience. It's a perfectly orchestrated and almost "light" 20 -ish courses of "American" food: Asian inspired, sake & wine.
- EaterJuly 30, 2012Lee masterfully blends myriad influences into a cuisine that transcends cultural boundaries, and sommelier Yoon Ha's insane pairing suggestions complete the entire experience. [Eater 38 Member]
Odile RoujolJune 26, 20163 etoiles michelin. Best chef ! Inspiration corée chine france. Table incontournable à SF
Hamilton GutierrezAugust 29, 2012Salt and pepper squid or chicharron de calamar aka fried squid rinds!!! I know it sounds odd and it is delicious! It is squid ink and pulverized squid made into fried rinds like chips.
Fiona SJune 13, 2013The tasting menu: a $180 spiritual experience. Everything was prepared with such creativity, thoughtfulness and consideration; porcelain custom made for the food.
eric bornemannApril 12, 2018Vastly creative cuisine, love the faux-shark fin soup and lobster soup dumplings. Wine by the glass list is a little dull.
Wilson Favre-DelerueFebruary 2, 2016Summits of creativity, especially in the signature 10+ starter dishes. Flavours ranging from exceptional to decent. Be prepared for a very large tab not inclusive of wine but with 20% service charge.
Sherry LiMarch 17, 2015$228 for tasting menu. Wine pairing is flexible based on how much you want to drink.
caroline wAugust 22, 2011The tasting menu is divine. Try getting a reservation at 6 pm rather than 8 pm (it is a 16-course menu!). Tasting takes about 4 hours and is more enjoyable when it ends at 10 rather than midnight.
EnroutSeptember 24, 2011The tasting menu is now $180 and worth every penny. The kimchee oyster pork belly, the salmon roe with buckwheat, and the foie grois xiao long bao are fantastic. www.enrout.com
Food & WineApril 5, 2012Chef Corey Lee combines Asian-inspired flavors to create dishes like his must-try faux shark’s-fin soup. He loves to work with unusual ingredients, like pine needles from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Read more
TripExpertMay 19, 2015Travel + Leisure, one of our professional reviewers, says, "A bowl of wild-salmon roe with puffed buckwheat conjures taste memories of cold soba." Read more
Visit Napa ValleyNovember 3, 2011Follow the stars! The Michelin Stars that is and head up to The Napa Valley where you will find 17 Michelin Star Restaurants including 3 star award winning French Laundry and Meadowood Resort.
Susan HobbsAugust 7, 2011Attention to detail at Benu is fantastic. Food is amazing and the presentation if fabulous. Cosmic music box birthday cake, FTW! Also, save room for the end of meal puzzle box chocolates.
Michelin Travel & LifestyleNovember 26, 2013Get the tasting menu for Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and French influences in harmony. Try monkfish liver + pumpkin tofu. – Green Guide Editor
Try the Monkfish Liver Torchon, Apple Relish,Turnip, Ramps, Sorrel, Mustard, Brioche - Item 10 of Benu's tasting menu.The foie gras of the sea served with one of Earth's loviest buttery brioche. Y
Bloompy BonvivantMarch 12, 2014Heavenly food, set in a minimalist decor and calming ambience, and an impeccable service.
Gnat BrainApril 23, 2018If your willing to drop a few hundos you’ll be treated to one of the best meals of your life with impeccable service.
Yaron Zakai-OrDecember 27, 2015This is exceptionally great food. The complexity and balanced food is felt in every bite. Nothing falls short of great.
Jess CliftonSeptember 18, 2011The lobster was amazing. As was the beef. Both from the main menu. Portions are small, so plan for two apps, one pasta (to share), two entrees & two desserts.
Norma RMay 6, 2015Amazing tasting menu. Highlights were the thousand year old egg, foie gras Xiao long bao, shaved milk
StacyApril 25, 2015The service make you in heaven! I like all the staff there! Food are good but somewhat average for a three stars.
- Try the Beef braised in pear, endive, date and watercress - Item 13 of Benu's tasting menu.The beef was cooked "en sous vide" making it very tender but keeping the velvety intramuscular fat. Lusci
Sophyan JulioFebruary 24, 2015Loved the faux sharkskin soup and dessert. Skip the wine pairing if sweeter wine isn't your thing.- Gretchen SchrammMarch 3, 2016Incredible tasting menu and wine pairing. The lobster soup dumplings were my favorite!!
- SivMay 26, 2011The tasting menu with the wine pairing was amazing! Definitely a great spot for a classy and fun birthday dinner. Best way to kick off a new year!
natalie l.January 16, 2013Definitely take a moment to peek in through the kitchen window from the sidewalk outside. Love to see how it all comes together!
@JaumePrimeroAugust 15, 2011everyone in the SF bay area needs to pay a visit to this restaurant. Receiving rave reviews from friends I know in the restaurant industry. Worth every penny.
cyn kMarch 27, 2014They did the most amazing "pork cooked like ham" that I've ever had. It was like bacon in every bite without the fat.
Julie TsaiMay 13, 2014It's a tasting menu- you may not have a choice. But, sea bream was delicious and quail was very tasty.
Fran SuFebruary 21, 2019Artistic presentation, attentive service. Innovative take on traditional dishes. However, many fusion twists resulted in mediocre taste. Quite disappointing for a 3 Michelin star restaurant... :(
Rod BannerFebruary 7, 2013The water glasses are totally sublime. Thin and elegant. As with the best in humanity. #thinspo
Eric FloydFebruary 11, 2011Tasting menu was fantastic, wine list was exceptional with nice selections even in the moderate price range. Great wines by the glass as well!
Hands down my favorite restaurant! $$$$ but it's the ultimate dining experience!
Bradley LeimerFebruary 17, 2013Wine pairing was exceptional but pricey at $150. Meal was excellent but also recommend Coi as an alternative.
571 Photos
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Closed until 5:00 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Sun
- 5:00 PM–10:00 PM
(415) 685-4860
Features
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Discover & Visa)
Outdoor Seating
No
Dining Options
Table Service
Food & Drink
Menus
Tasting Menu
Drinks
Wine, Full Bar, Cocktails
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Lynnet Spiegel - 8.8
"Excellent. Some of the best food in the city. American cuisine done Dim Sum style. Walk up at 5pm with only 2 of you and you might get a seat at the bar."
Frances James
- 8.9
"One of the best meals I've ever had. Go for a unique experience, to make some friends and for an incredibly satisfying tasting menu. Opt for drinks a la carte rather than the pairing."
Christeleny
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